Redietz, I get Casino City Times newsletters. They say these are the top ten bets for the 2017 NFL season. What is your opinion on these bets:

1. Raiders under 9.5 wins
2. Lions under 8 wins
3. Bengals to make the playoffs
4. Cardinals to make the playoffs
5. Titans to make the playoffs
6. Cowboys to win the NFC North
7. "Field" to lead NFL touchdown receptions
8. Clemson to win NCAA
9. Hurts to win Heisman
10. Michigan +7.5 over Penn State

#10. Is there actually a line on a game 7 weeks away? Where would you find a line like that? (seems high to me)

#1. 9.5 seems about right to me. I could see thinking the Raiders are overrated if they were in a division with a couple really strong teams. I don't think that is the case. Each of the other teams in the division, KC, Denver, SD, seems to be on the decline to me. I would say 9.5 is about right depending..... as it always does on injuries.

#6. E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES, EAGLES, EAGLES! (that's a cheer that used to go through the stands when I attended Eagles games.) I know it's my heart influencing me, but I really think the cowboys might be overrated. They had two rookies that caught everyone by surprise and had phenomenal years last year. This year they have to do it again, catching no one by surprise and avoid the pitfalls of injury, suspension <- lol, and the typical sophomore jinks that often finds young players after a strong rookie season.

In addition the cowboys this year will have a tougher schedule by means of their first place finish in the division last year. The NFL attempts to even things out a bit by making the previous years first place team's schedule more difficult and making the last place team's schedule easier. The differences are small since all division teams play each other, plus play the same division from the other conference (AFC west for Eagles and cowboys), but the difference lies in the remaining NFC non-division games, and what teams are scheduled home and away. Last year the cowboys were coming off a 4-12 year meaning they had the easier schedule. They won't have that this year.

Redietz, I get Casino City Times newsletters. They say these are the top ten bets for the 2017 NFL season. What is your opinion on these bets:

1. Raiders under 9.5 wins
2. Lions under 8 wins
3. Bengals to make the playoffs
4. Cardinals to make the playoffs
5. Titans to make the playoffs
6. Cowboys to win the NFC North
7. "Field" to lead NFL touchdown receptions
8. Clemson to win NCAA
9. Hurts to win Heisman
10. Michigan +7.5 over Penn State

Just out of curiosity, did you personally ride any of these bets, mickey? Of the first 6 which have to do with individual pro teams reaching a particular goal, 5 got off to the wrong start win/loss wise as per reaching that desired goal.

1. Raiders under 9.5 wins
2. Lions under 8 wins
3. Bengals to make the playoffs
4. Cardinals to make the playoffs
5. Titans to make the playoffs
6. Cowboys to win the NFC North
7. "Field" to lead NFL touchdown receptions
8. Clemson to win NCAA
9. Hurts to win Heisman
10. Michigan +7.5 over Penn State

So we are getting into the season now, about 1/3 way through the NFL season and half way through college. Many of these wagers are trending the wrong way. Still time left, but some of these teams need to change course in a hurry.

1. Raiders under 9.5 looks good. Raiders are a disappointing 2-3. They need to win 8 of 11 to reach 10 wins and with 2 games against KC remaining, looks difficult.
2. Lions under 8 wins. Lions are 3-2, but have remaining games left against some pretty weak teams...Chicago twice and Cleveland. Good chance to get to 8 wins.
3, 4, 5 Bengals, Cardinals and Titans are all currently 2-3. BUT all are in divisions where the division leader is 3-2, so they are still in the thick of it, but all need to step up soon if they are going to make a run.
6. Cowboys 2-3 and 2 full games behind the Eagles (4-1). Long way to go, including 2 head to heads, but the cowboys just don't look good so far on either side of the ball. They don't look like the team from last year....so far.
7. I don't know who was in the field? Jordy Nelson currently leads with 6 TD receptions. I presume he wasn't in "the field".
8. Reasonable chance.
9. Unreasonable chance.
10. Possibly...maybe. Line seems about right. I don't think Penn State will be able to run against Michigan, but they have other weapons and a strong defense.